MEMPHIS, TN— Is marriage a thing of the past? According to the Tennessee Department of Health there were 5,238, or 5.6 percent, of marriages in Shelby County in 2010. That same year 2,224, or 2.4 percent, of people filed for divorce.
Mid-Southerners told abc24.com the reason for not tying the knot anymore is because they don't have the money to get married or they're afraid of divorce, while others prefer a career.
"I think more women are more independent now and they don't really have to feel like that's their only security they have, getting married,” said Margie Gauldin, who remarried 5 years ago.
“People don't have jobs so what's the point of getting married if you can't take care of the person you're getting married to,” said Reggie Sherrold, who prefers to be single.
"I think they're just scared of commitment. A lot of people get together for the wrong reasons, some of them for the money, some of them for the sex, and it just doesn't work out,” said 48-year old Patricia Lee, who’s never been married.
“It's just a change in culture, I guess,” said Jim Prather, who’s divorced.
According to a study done by the “National Marriage Week USA,” 50 years ago more than 70-percent of couples married. In 2010, that number dropped to 20-percent. Doctor Kenneth Whalum, pastor of New Olivet Baptist Church, blames reality shows and high profile divorces on television.
“People would rather shack it up than to make the vow, to make the commitment to get married. It’s unfortunate but it's a sign of the times,” said Whalum.
Whalum and his wife are on a mission to change that with their marriage program.
"It's called C.A.N.A.: Couples Achieving Newness Again," said Sheila Whalum. “There are 3 stages of marriage: the endearment stage, the adjustment stage, and the committed stage. If you can make it through all of those you got something."
The Whalums have been married nearly 30 years and hope others will too. Whalums’ marriage program started about 10 years ago. Pastor Whalum says they've helped more than 5,000 couples stay married. They meet every Sunday at his church.
